Actress Simisola Gold arrested by ICPC for selling new naira notes

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, or ICPC, has detained popular slay queen and Nollywood actress Simisola Gold for selling fresh naira bills.

Simisola Gold, whose real name is Omoseyin Oluwadarasimi Esther and Twitter handle is @SimisolaofLala, was reportedly detained for allegedly using social media to sell new naira notes.

This was stated in a statement released in Abuja on February 2, 2023, on Wednesday night, by ICPC spokesperson Azuka Ogugua. According to the statement, the suspect was quickly located and detained as a result of intelligence that the ICPC operatives had received.

According to the statement: “Oluwadarasimi Emma, a social media ‘serial entrepreneur’ who deals in skincare, sales of fuel, facilitation of foreign travels through visa acquisitions, and other businesses, seized the opportunity of the scarcity of the new naira notes to openly market the new notes. It is believed she is in collusion with key elements in the financial services sector diverting the newly released notes away from banking halls and payment channels into a ‘black market.’

She is currently in ICPC detention and is helping the Commission with its findings on the criminal trading of the naira and the attendant scarcity and negative economic outcomes being caused by the action. The action is in furtherance of the collaboration between CBN, ICPC and EFCC in implementing the new cashless policy and naira redesign.”